China Here I come -- How this happened...

Ever since I was young, I have wanted to travel the world. I would look at Ntl Geo. magazines and imagine myself in far away places. I think my "rock star ideation" was born from that wanderlust. That and the fact that I never felt "at home" in my first family or even in AZ (even tho I am still here)

After marrying and having kids and starting a career and then maintaining it through lean times, I still wanted to travel. Tim and I would go on road trips with me but it is expensive for a family of four and he just isn't an adventurer. He doesn't like most ethnic food (except mexican) and only likes to go where he wants when he wants. Even when we do go somewhere, as soon as we get checked into our room he wants to nap as he doesn't sleep well the night before. Meanwhile, I am ready to goooooo. Needless to say, even in the few times that money hasn't been a problem, we still haven't traveled much and I found my resentment for him building although he is my soul mate.

I was beginning to think that I would never see the world. A couple of years ago, one of our pastors made a trip to Kenya and showed the videos in church. That awakened my desires again. In the meantime, our church partnered with Food for the Hungry and adopted a community in Kenya. We now sponsor 95% of the children (more families keep moving to our community) and we have built 2 wells for fresh drinking water. We send teams 3 times per year and we support a FH worker that lives in the village. Last year I volunteered to go with the summer team to dig the wells. Unfortunately, a bunch of people also volunteered so I was not one of the "chosen few" - or so I thought.

God had other plans for me. The missions director from the church called me and asked if I would be willing to go anywhere else. I said yes and she told me that my skills as a music therapist with special needs kids were desperately needed throughout the world. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Manila, Philippines to train a missionary family. Their permanent home is Manila but their field work is in war-torn Afghanistan. When they are in the field, their son who has special needs, gets no services. So I trained the family in some basic techniques and then presented on music therapy for the autism society.

My Filipino Family ------------------------- Me overlooking the rice terraces

This year, in Feb. I was preparing to send an e-mail to our missions director telling her I was ready to go to Africa, the e-mail was written when I deleted everything and started again. One sentence..."Where is God sending me this summer?" The answer came from Food for the Hungry. They have 2 special education schools in China and want me to work with the children and train the staff for the month of July...

So as I embark on this trip to China, I am amazed at His goodness, I am feeling clothed in His protection and I am feeling Richly rewarded for spreading His love to the "least of these" - young abandoned children in China. FH has paid for most of my expenses and I am part of a ground breaking program that as part of the FH vision will eventually be worldwide. And I know God will take me wherever HE wants me to be...

I can maintain my independent spirit while still relying on Jesus' love and protection and using my God given talents for His glory.

Meanwhile, My dear husband, Tim, is staying home, working and faithfully caring for Mallory (she's 16) our four cats, dog and houseplants while still praying for my safety and supporting my endeavors...

Our almost 20y.o. Daley, is embarking on a trip with her youth group to teach an English camp for teenagers in Czeck Republic...

God has indeed blessed me RICHLY! AND He will bless you if you open your heart to His love.